Sliding foundation vent

Abstract

A foundation vent includes four panels arranged to form a box-shaped vent frame. Ten frame vanes are attached to the box-shaped frame. A vent shutter having ten shutter vanes with elongated oval-shaped finger grips positioned centrally on the shutter vanes is held in a slider channel positioned on the box-shaped vent frame. The slider channel is formed by a series of six tabs centrally positioned in an opening between two adjacent frame vanes. The vent shutter is held in the slider channel so that it slides with respect to the box-shaped vent frame to selectively expose openings in between the frame vanes. A locking mortar track in provided on all four panels of the box-shaped frame to securely hold it in place. The vent is preferably constructed from polypropylene copolymer that is talc reinforced and sized to evenly course with a standard size brick.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vent, said vent comprising:
 four panels arranged to form a box-shaped vent frame; 
 a plurality of frame vanes attached to said box shaped frame; 
 a vent shutter having a plurality of shutter vanes having elongated oval-shaped finger grips extending outward from a front surface of said shutter vanes; 
 a slider channel formed on an interior surface of said box-shaped vent frame said slider channel comprising at least one integrally molded plastic tab that extends outward from said interior surface of said box-shaped vent frame such that said at least one molded plastic tab holds said vent shutter in said box-shaped vent frame such that said vent shutter slides with respect to said box-shaped vent frame; and 
 a locking mortar track formed on an exterior surface of all four panels of said box-shaped frame; 
 wherein said slider channel and said vent shutter are enclosed within an interior of said box-shaped frame. 
 
     
     
       2. The vent of  claim 1  wherein said slider channel further comprises a series of tabs wherein each of said tabs is positioned on said interior surface of said box-shaped vent frame such that said tab is centered with respect to an opening formed between two of said frame vanes. 
     
     
       3. The vent of  claim 1  wherein said slider channel further comprises six tabs wherein each of said six tabs is positioned on said interior surface of said box-shaped vent frame such that said tab is centered with respect to an opening formed between two of said frame vanes. 
     
     
       4. The vent of  claim 1 , wherein said vent is constructed from a polypropylene copolymer that is talc reinforced. 
     
     
       5. The vent of  claim 1  wherein said box-shaped frame is sized to evenly course with a standard sized brick. 
     
     
       6. The vent of  claim 1  wherein said vent shutter is constructed from a unitary piece of plastic. 
     
     
       7. A molded plastic foundation vent, said vent comprising:
 four plastic panels arranged to form a box-shaped vent frame; 
 a plurality of plastic frame vanes attached to said box-shaped frame; 
 a molded plastic vent shutter having a plurality of shutter vanes wherein said molded plastic vent shutter is formed from a single piece of molded plastic; 
 a slider channel formed on an interior surface of said box-shaped vent frame said slider channel comprising at least one molded plastic tab that extends outward from said interior surface of said box-shaped vent frame such that said at least one molded plastic tab holds said molded plastic vent shutter in said box-shaped frame such that said molded plastic vent shutter slides with respect to said box-shaped vent frame; and 
 a locking mortar track formed on all four panels of said box-shaped frame wherein said slider channel and said shutter frame are enclosed within said an interior of said box-shaped frame; 
 wherein said slider channel and said vent shutter are enclosed within an interior of said box-shaped vent frame; and 
 wherein said at least one molded plastic tab and at least one of said plastic panels are constructed from a single unitary piece of plastic.